Understanding the differences between leadership and management
A leader is one who influences the behaviour and work of others in group efforts towards achievement of specified goals in a given situation. Managers at all levels are expected to be the leaders of work groups so that subordinates willingly carry instructions and accept their guidance. Leadership doesn’t require any managerial position to act as a leader. The biggest difference between managers and leaders is the way they motivate people to follow them. Managers have a position given to them by the company. Their subordinates work for them to complete tasks and in turn manage situations as they occur. Leaders on the other hand do not have subordinates when they are leading. Instead, formal control is given up, as to lead is have followers and this is always a voluntary activity. Below i have outlined key differences:
|Manager |Leader |
|A person becomes a manager by virtue of his position. |A person becomes a leader on basis of his personal |
| |qualities. |
|Manager has got formal rights in an organization because of his status. |Rights are not available to a leader. |
|The subordinates are the followers of managers. |The group of employees whom the leaders leads are his |
| |followers. |
|It is more stable. |Leadership is temporary. |
|All managers are leaders. |All leaders are